I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but I couldn't help but notice while watching last night's game that Marlins' catcher John Buck has what I like to call "Mackey Sasser Syndrome" and that is a mental block about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. On every pitch, Buck had to stand up, step toward the pitcher and double pump before releasing the ball. This can tend to be very unsettling to pitchers. As a matter of fact, it was irritating to this viewer. Mackey Sasser was a catcher in the 80s that I recall had this same problem and it ruined his career as a catcher. Pitchers refused to throw to him after awhile. My guess is pitchers loathe this about Buck as well.

On another note, Alonso put on a good show for the Marlin scouts and front office. I have to believe they'd be a hot candidate to acquire him in trade. I wonder if they have another Mike Stanton type LFer in their organization?

JaxRed

08-24-2011, 11:40 AM

I have the weekend season pass for the Jax Suns (Marlins AA) and have been privileged to watch some really nice Marlins prospects come thru here. (and before that the Dodgers in their Kemp/Martin/Loney/Kershaw/Billingsly/Broxton days)......

Stanton was amazing in his time here.

But at least at AA this year, this was a pedestrian, organizational player laden team. There is nobody at AA that I would want.

Big Klu

08-24-2011, 11:40 AM

On another note, Alonso put on a good show for the Marlin scouts and front office. I have to believe they'd be a hot candidate to acquire him in trade. I wonder if they have another Mike Stanton type LFer in their organization?

They already have a 1B from the University of Miami in Gaby Sanchez.

Sea Ray

08-24-2011, 11:49 AM

They already have a 1B from the University of Miami in Gaby Sanchez.

I think Alonso is the better 1B from the U

cumberlandreds

08-24-2011, 12:38 PM

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but I couldn't help but notice while watching last night's game that Marlins' catcher John Buck has what I like to call "Mackey Sasser Syndrome" and that is a mental block about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. On every pitch, Buck had to stand up, step toward the pitcher and double pump before releasing the ball. This can tend to be very unsettling to pitchers. As a matter of fact, it was irritating to this viewer. Mackey Sasser was a catcher in the 80s that I recall had this same problem and it ruined his career as a catcher. Pitchers refused to throw to him after awhile. My guess is pitchers loathe this about Buck as well.

On another note, Alonso put on a good show for the Marlin scouts and front office. I have to believe they'd be a hot candidate to acquire him in trade. I wonder if they have another Mike Stanton type LFer in their organization?

Someone else who had that "syndrome" was Dale Murphy. He was quickly moved to the outfield and had a very nice career.

Redsfan320

08-24-2011, 01:54 PM

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but I couldn't help but notice while watching last night's game that Marlins' catcher John Buck has what I like to call "Mackey Sasser Syndrome" and that is a mental block about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. On every pitch, Buck had to stand up, step toward the pitcher and double pump before releasing the ball. This can tend to be very unsettling to pitchers. As a matter of fact, it was irritating to this viewer. Mackey Sasser was a catcher in the 80s that I recall had this same problem and it ruined his career as a catcher. Pitchers refused to throw to him after awhile. My guess is pitchers loathe this about Buck as well.

Yes indeed. Just this little double-or-triple-hesitation thing. Very annoying.

320

crazybob60

08-24-2011, 03:48 PM

I didn't watch but 1 inning last night, but does it also happen when runners are trying to steal on him? Maybe a reason why Stubbs was trying to steal so much last night?

Spitball

08-24-2011, 06:00 PM

Someone else who had that "syndrome" was Dale Murphy. He was quickly moved to the outfield and had a very nice career.

Dave Engle, a catcher for the Twins in the early '80s, had it also. Second basemen Steve Sax and Chuck Knoblauch had related problems. Pitchers Steve Blass, Mark Wohlers, and Rick Ankiel also developed mental conditions about throwing.

Cognitive psychologists have done lots of studies on problems of these sorts. Throwing involves rote muscle memory and shouldn't involve too much conscious thinking about the mechanics while being performed.

Chip R

08-24-2011, 10:19 PM

I didn't watch but 1 inning last night, but does it also happen when runners are trying to steal on him? Maybe a reason why Stubbs was trying to steal so much last night?

From what I understood about Sasser's condition, he only had problems throwing back to the pitcher and had no problems throwing to 2nd. Not sure if it's that way for Buck.

Sea Ray

08-24-2011, 10:31 PM

From what I understood about Sasser's condition, he only had problems throwing back to the pitcher and had no problems throwing to 2nd. Not sure if it's that way for Buck.

Yes, that's why it's different than Steve Sax or Blass. It's an issue tossing it back to the pitcher

Johnny Footstool

08-25-2011, 01:14 AM

We had a female player on a co-rec softball team one year who was pretty bad. We stuck her in right field, of course.

I played shortstop, and I during one particular game, she really started winging the ball to me at second -- almost threw out a couple of fast runners. After the game, I told my teammates that she had really improved, and they told me, "Yeah, her husband took her out to the park and gave her some tips." I said, "Wow, her husband must be pretty good. Do you think he's be interested in playing for us? Maybe as a sub sometime?" They laughed and said, "No. Her husband is John Buck."

...

This is the thread where we just post John Buck anecdotes, right?

Spitball

08-25-2011, 01:15 AM

Yes, that's why it's different than Steve Sax or Blass. It's an issue tossing it back to the pitcher

Actually not. Throwing to the pitcher or from second and pitching from the mound all allow time to think about the process. Throwing to second to catch a runner does not allow time to think.